Redman wins fifth straight as Royals win sixth of seven

The left-hander pitched seven sharp innings to win his fifth
straight start and the Kansas City Royals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-0 Sunday for their sixth victory in seven games.

Redman, who began the year 0-4 in his first seven starts, is 5-0
with a 3.74 ERA since coming off the bereavement list after his
father had successful heart surgery.

He is the first Kansas City pitcher to win five consecutive
starts since Darrell May from June 27 to July 19, 2003. Redman's
five wins in June match his victory total last season with
Pittsburgh.

"I missed spring training," said Redman, who had surgery on
his left knee in March. "I don't think the knee is an issue, just
the fact I threw only two innings in spring training. I got a late
start and came back quick from my surgery and back in the big
leagues after just two rehab starts.

"In April, I was still getting my feet wet, it was like it was
my spring training," he said. "In May, I was just trying to find
my arm slot, comfort level and a good release point. Here in June,
you've got some innings under your belt and getting on a good roll
and just roll with it."

Redman (5-4) gave up six hits, walked two and struck out one.

"That's the way I pitch a lot -- to contact, try to make them
hit my pitch and keep the ball down," Redman said. "As the game
went on, I got a lot more groundballs than fly balls. That's a key.
I never go for strikeouts."

"We're starting to see a little steamroll effect,"
Mientkiewicz said after the Royals won for the eighth time in 11
games. "The bottom line is our pitching has been better."

Redman, who improved to 6-2 with a 2.49 ERA in eight career
starts against the Brewers, was replaced by Joel Peralta after
giving up a double to Rickie Weeks leading off the eighth.

"There are two losses in there," Redman said. "They got my
number a couple of times. I've pitched a good ballgame a couple of
times against them. They are a lot different team in the past when
I got of lot of those wins. They are a solid baseball team. You
definitely have to make your pitches on them."

Jimmy Gobble got four outs for his first career save, striking
out two.

"I didn't realize it was a save until later," said Gobble, who
got the game ball. "I'm not a closer, not even close."

Brewers right-hander Rick Helling, making his second start of
the season after spending two months on the disabled list with a
sprained right elbow, was pulled after 63 pitches and three
innings. He allowed one run, three hits and three walks.

"He was just laboring from the first pitch on," Brewers
manager Ned Yost said. "He was pitching with a lot of heart. When
he got up to 60 pitches in three innings, the way Redman is on us,
I didn't want to take a chance they'd throw two or three quick runs
on us."

Yost said he is "probably going to move" Helling back to long
relief and insert Carlos Villanueva into the rotation.

"I threw a lot of pitches for three innings, but I've thrown a
lot of games where I've thrown a lot of pitches early and I always
want to stay in," Helling said. "The manager and pitching coach
make the decision when I come out. I've got no problem with that."

As far as going to the bullpen, Helling said, "I'll do whatever
they want me to do."

David DeJesus led off the third with a double, advanced to third
on a wild pitch and scored on Mientkiewicz's sacrifice fly for the
only run off Helling (0-2).

The Royals scored another run in the fifth off Villanueva. Joey Gathright opened the inning with a walk, went to third on DeJesus'
single and scored on Graffanino's grounder.

That gave Redman a cushion.

"It is easy to pitch when things are going your way," he said.
"You have a confidence level and just go out and try to repeat it
each five days. June typically is a pretty good month for me."

Mientkiewicz doubled in the seventh off Brian Shouse to score
Graffanino, who walked.

The Royals added three more runs in the eighth. Mientkiewicz,
Graffanino and Matt Stairs each drove in one.

The Brewers got only one runner to third base in the first seven
innings. Corey Koskie doubled with one out and went to third on
Brady Clark's infield single. Redman got out of that jam by
retiring Chad Moeller on a fly to center.

Game notes

Brewers SS Bill Hall, who left Saturday's game with an
upset stomach, did not start. ... Mientkiewicz made a diving stop
of Prince Fielder's hard smash down the first-base line to rob him
of a hit in the fourth. ... The Brewers dropped to 12-22 on the
road.